The Little Things Newsletter #404 – Life, laughter, and lots of great food!

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Welcome to the weekend, my friends! We woke up today in a winter wonderland. As much as I love a snow day, and this is definitely a great one, I’m also thrilled that warmer weather is in the forecast for the rest of this week and the snow won’t be here for long. In the meantime, I’m planning to cook up some hearty snow-day foods this weekend.

Starting with waffles and waffle sauce for brunch this morning, then crispy baked chicken, the best ever homemade mac and cheese, and a sweet kale salad on the menu for dinner tonight. Tomorrow’s brunch plan is bacon and eggs with fluffy biscuits and some jam I brought back from Switzerland. Dinner will be this chipotle honey meatloaf (a long time favorite from my first cookbook) with garlic mashed red potatoes and parmesan roasted carrots

I’m getting hungry just reading all of that, so I’m headed to the kitchen to start the waffles just as soon as I send this email. Fortunately, we have several soups and a batch of steak chili tucked in the freezer for lunches too.

ON THE BLOGS THIS WEEK: Bursting with the sweet, juicy flavors of pineapple and coconut, this Pina Colada Smoothie brings a bit of vacation sunshine, no matter the weather.

Tender and savory steak bites offer a fresh take on the classic loaded baked potato. A Loaded Steak Baked Potato is a hearty meal, all by itself.

Crunchy cabbage is tossed in a tangy and sweet dressing in classic Chick Fil A Coleslaw. Making this beloved menu item is a breeze, now that the once secret recipe is well known.

Warm and fluffy cinnamon rolls are kicked into high gear with rich, creamy caramel and tart apples in these Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls.

A simple, rustic tart featuring fresh pears drizzled with caramel sauce, this Caramel Pear Tart is simple to make, with just a handful of ingredients.

Buttery, nutty cookies are topped with the sweet jam of your choice in these simple, gluten free Read more

Japanese Cloud Pancakes

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Japanese Cloud Pancakes

a photo of three fluffy Japanese cloud pancakes topped with powdered sugar and mixed fresh berries

The entire internet has gone absolutely crazy for these Japanese pancakes! They are so light, airy and tasty! A Japanese cloud pancake just became a staple at our house, so get out your egg whites and let’s give breakfast around the world a try!

Japanese cloud pancakes are fluffy and decadent, we are going to walk you through each step of making them. They require a little extra care and attention than traditional American buttermilk pancakes. They are worth every bit of effort though! Trust me on that!

What is a Japanese Cloud Pancake?

Japanese cloud pancakes, also known as soufflé pancakes, are delicate cottony pancakes. They are made by folding whipped egg whites into pancake batter so when they cook, they puff up like a soufflé.

Pancake Molds

I’ve decided that while the authentic pancake clearly uses a ring mold, I just do not have the time or mental capacity to worry about buying molds, spraying molds, filling molds AND cleaning molds. So! Here’s my tricky solution and should you wish to use molds, these seem to be the best buy:

Instead, the key is to uses a nonstick pan that has a lid that will securely fit on the pan and add the batter in layers, allowing the first to begin to cook and then dolloping more on top. I know, I know, but it’s still easier for me than a mold. I’ll go into all the details below.

What Do I Need to Make Japanese Pancakes

Even though these are Japanese, you don’t need any exotic ingredients. In fact, you’ll probably have most of the ingredients in house already, and if not, everything can be found at your standard grocery store. Here is your ingredients list:

  • Egg Yolk: adds structure and richness to the pancakes
  • Sugar: adds sweetness
  • Whole Milk: The milk must be whole milk. The fattier milk makes for a better souffle.
  • Cake Flour: gives the pancakes a lighter texture then all purpose flour
  • Baking Powder: acts as a leavening agent for the pancakes to give them some lift
  • Vanilla Extract: adds flavor

For the Egg Whites

  • Egg Whites: adds rise and fluffiness to the pancakes
  • Cream of Tartar: helps stabilize the egg whites so they hold their fluffiness
  • Sugar: adds sweetness
  • Water: used to help cook the pancakes by adding steam

The measurements for all these ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Japanese Cloud Pancakes

Here is your step by step guide to making Japanese cloud pancakes without a mold…

  1. Prepare batter by whisking the yolk and sugar in a large bowl until pale and then slowly whis

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

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Rich chocolate and peanut butter ice cream with chocolate and peanut butter chunks mixed throughout is a dream come true for any ice cream lover.

The candy pieces are just the right amount of dark chocolate and peanut butter to mix into the ice cream.

Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream is a hit!

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

The first time I made this chocolate ice cream and filled it with peanut butter cups, I stashed it in the freezer for a few days before sharing it with my boys.

I knew without a doubt that they would flip over this ice cream. (Yes, I enjoyed it daily. There just wasn’t the right moment to share it initially. You do believe me, right?)

I’ve been making this ice cream for almost nine years now and this is still one of our favorite ice creams. It tastes just like a smooth, creamy chocolate peanut butter cup!

I don’t know if I’ve ever had as many ice cream related questions from readers as I have this past week. So many people are making Homemade Ice Cream and looking at Ice Cream Makers too.

For more great recipes to try, don’t miss our whole collection of ice cream recipes! Fresh Mint Ice Cream is like no other mint ice cream you’ve tried in the past, and it is one of our current favorites.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

There aren’t very many ice cream recipes on this website that require cooking the base mixture over the stove, but this one? It is absolutely worth a few minutes of stirring and the lengthy chill time before churning. And when I say it’s worth it? I mean it.

I’d choose this chocolate and peanut butter ice cream combination over anything store-bought!

homemade chocolate ice cream with peanut butter

Just a heads up: As much as I love this ice cream fully loaded with peanut butter cups, I nee

Swedish Pancakes [+Video]

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Swedish Pancakes [+Video]

a photo of four swedish pancakes rolled up and sitting next to each other on a white plate topped with diced strawberries.

Swedish Pancakes are a cross between a crepe and a pancake. They have a delicate texture and my gosh, they are delicious!

I honestly think that Swedish pancakes are superior to every other crepe-like recipe. I’ve said it, I’ve done it, I’ve angered the world. But truly, other than our buttermilk brown butter crepes (would you like the recipe?!) these are the best breakfast from around the world. In my humble opinion. Most Swedish pancake recipes call for only milk but their milk seems to be more full fat so adding sour cream achieved that extra flavor we lack in the states, but you can totally use all milk instead.

Culinary Heritage

I’ve been really intrigued by the idea of getting to know your heritage and ancestors lately. There are so many amazing stories that we are learning, like pulling handcarts across the United States and being trapped in horrendous snow storms with no food or even shoes, yet writing faith-filled journals about trust in God and His love. Amazing!

Recently I decided that if I was ever truly wanting to get to know someone I’d visit them where they live and eat what they eat and walk where they walk. So, I’ve decided I need a trip to Europe. 

It’s settled. I need to go. 

And in the meantime, I’m discovering recipes that my ancestors used, like these Swedish Pancakes!

What is a Swedish Pancake?

A Swedish pancake is a thin, crepe-like, pancake is that is lacy and tender and traditionally served with lingonberries or lingonberry jam. In fact, they are even sometimes called Swedish crepes. They can be rolled up for folded into quarters and eaten with whatever toppings you love.

What is the Difference Between Swedish Pancakes and Regular Pancakes?

Swedish pancakes are lighter and thinner than regular pancakes, or “American pancakes” we will call them. We are no strangers to the best pancakes on earth, and if you dig in and compare the two recipes, you will see that Swedish pancakes have more milk than flour and more eggs and butter. The batter for Swedish pancakes will be thin and pourable where the batter for American pancakes is quite thick and almost has be to spooned onto the pan or skillet to cook.

Are Swedish Pancakes the Same as Crepes?

Though similar, they are not the same thing. Swedish pancakes are lighter and fluffier and don’t hold us as

Pina Colada Smoothie

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Bursting with the sweet, juicy flavors of pineapple and coconut, this Pina Colada Smoothie brings a bit of vacation sunshine, no matter the weather.

a tall glass of a white colored smoothie in a clear glass on a wooden tabletop.

Pina Colada Smoothie

Years ago, when I first put this recipe on the blog, I had just made this piña colada smoothie and churned it into ice cream. I can still remember how my little boys jumped up and down with excitement.

They loved the sweetness of this refreshing ice cream treat during the heat of a Phoenix summer. I loved that it had no refined sugars.

I had been on a bit of a smoothie kick, back then. But, I’d never tried freezing a smoothie recipe before that. The result is a creamy texture that is more like soft-serve ice cream.

The twist of lime in this Pina Colada Smoothie gives it a unique taste that is more complex than the simple combination of coconut and pineapple. And, the tiny pinch of sea salt likewise enhances all of the flavors.

two servings of pina colada smoothie in clear glasses with metal spoons in them.

Be aware that different manufacturers produce their coconut milks at varying levels of creaminess and thickness. My favorite is the canned coconut milk from Thai kitchen.

I typically use store-bought frozen pineapple chunks for smoothies, but you can also freeze fresh pineapple chunks with the banana. Also, the honey could be swapped out for another natural sweet

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